Wish To Travel To Haines Early To Middle April (Anchorage: rental, how much)

[RAMFEB31]

I am thinking of going toward Haines by car to Washington then by ferry to Haines. Though I've been in Haines several times, it was during the Summer months. What is the general weather like during that period? Are all the snow gone by then? Is it faster and/or less expensive by ferry or is it better driving there assuming my start point is S. Ca.?

[Rance]

I've only been on the ferry from Wrangell to Petersburg. It was kind of nice to just kick back and not deal with having to do any driving. The Alcan is nice in April. I did it last April and the roads were pretty much dry, going down and back.

[mal_flisk]

I did the Inside Passage from Bellingham to Juneau and the ferry from Juneau to Whittier. I've never done the Alcsn, but I hear it's a hoot.

[RAMFEB31]

Hi Mal,
Did U take some wheels w/U and what time of years was it? I was thinking of taking my wheels w/me since there seem to be a lack of any auto rental agencies in Haines. I do know the ferry people seem to have good computer records of people travelling w/a vehicle. I was embarrassed last year when I guess at the length of one of my vehicle while travelling between Haines and Juneau. They politely said I seem to be a foot shy and proceed to measure it. It seems a year previous to that, I gave them a number that match their measurement. Still they were very, very polite about it. That is the great thing about U Alaskans. Nothing fluster U. It reminded me of my farming days 60 years back when neighbors were family.

[mal_flisk]

Took a Chevy Cobalt, and it was in June. A great trip. Make reservations early as a lot of tourists also use the ferry, and dates fill up quickly. It's a pretty friendly group of people, and in June, you can sleep on the deck.

[amhs03]

If you want to come up to Haines I can give you a great scoop, I live here. The ferry is going to be your best bet because it is going to cost you about the same amount of time to drive as it would to take the ferry. We have had a record amount of snow this year. If you come up in April there is more a chance than not that there will still be plenty of snow on the ground. Put it this way. We have had so much snow in Haines this year that the only windows in our house you can see out of without looking up are on the second story.
The good news about coming up in April is that the driver goes free on the ferry. If you wait until May it will cost up to $300.00 more. Mal_flisk is right though, make your reservations early the tourist season is just about to begin so space will go fast. And do yourself a favor, don't get a cabin on the boat just bring along a small inflatable bed and a cooler of food. They have Lockers you can fit a small cooler into and public showers that they keep pretty clean. This will save you at least another $400.00 on the trip. The ferry system does have great food, but if you don't want to spend a lot bring along a lot of quick breakfast and easy lunch items and just eat dinner in the ships cafe.
And do yourself another favor if you are driving up to Bellingham to get on the ferry. Get to the terminal early! The ferry typically leaves Bellingham at 5pm be at the terminal by noon, check in and get in line. I took a trip down to the 48 last December,supposedly the dead of the season. I didn't get reservations coming home from Bellingham and was the 11th person on stand by waiting to get on the boat. I ended up being the second to the last car to get on the ship. Talk about a nail-biting experience.

Hope you have a great trip.

[Placidstorm]

Ferry's a great ride , bring a camera .

[RAMFEB31]

Thanks for the tip, AM. Yes, U guys have a great ferry system. Since the fast ferrys came into service, it has been even better. I don't know about the other areas, but the number of trips I took between Haines to Juneau and points south were the same price for the slow boat as the fast one. Now this snow thing. Gee, I thought snow in Haines were only averaging in the inches, not in the feet. I was commenting in another thread how much warmer it would be in Haines as compared to Soldotna or the Anchorage areas. So, to drive in Haines in April would mean chains or, the very least, studded tires? I certainly will try the sites put out by UAF. Thanks!! My other choice is to fly into Juneau and rent a car for the trip to Haines.

[Placidstorm]

Chains arent for long hauls , ya cant get much over 30 or 40 mph before they come unglued and give your car a spanking .

[RAMFEB31]

Hi Placid,
Are U recommending snow tires? AM, what are you and the locals using on the cars even after the snowplow come thru. I remember distinctly one of the R.E. agant saying the city roads are taken care of during the winter so I assume it meant snowplowing.